Copays, Deductibles and Coinsurance Explained

Copays, deductibles and coinsurance all work together to help reduce your medical expenses and protect your finances. They also help reduce everyday health-related expenses, like a visit to the doctor for a sprained ankle or your child's flu.

Let's take a look at each of these terms, and how it affects your overall medical expenses.

Copays / Copayments

Most people are familiar with copays, a flat fee you pay toward services such as doctor visits or prescriptions. You walk into a doctor’s office, they often expect a copay. This is your initial payment for service, no matter what your visit is for.

With some Cigna plans, you will have a copay for prescriptions, and doctor or urgent care visits.

You may also select a Cigna plan that allows you the first few office visits with a copay, and then your annual deductible and coinsurance will apply. With these plans, you will not be charged copays or coinsurance for in-network preventive services like annual checkups, mammograms and colonoscopies.

Cigna plans also allow you to see any doctor without a referral. With our quality network of providers you are sure to find the specialist you need. If you do go out-of-network, we’ll still provide coverage but, depending on your plan, a higher copay or your out-of-network deductible and coinsurance may apply.

Deductibles

This is the portion of your medical expenses that is not covered by a copay and you are responsible for 100%, until you reach your deductible. It's like car insurance. Should you need to, you pay your deductible and then insurance kicks in to help pay.

The basics about annual health deductibles:

Hospitalization, surgery and procedures are typically applied to your deductible.

Mental health, chiropractic care and other services may also go toward your deductible.

Premiums are not applied toward the deductible. Deductibles are different for individuals and families. Deductibles are much lower if you see in-network versus out-of-network (outside the network) doctors; if you go out-of-network, you will have an out-of-network deductible which is separate from the in-network deductible.

Choosing a high- or low-deductible plan

In choosing a plan, you want the best value for your money. You ask: Which is better, a high deductible or a low deductible?

High deductible: To get a lower monthly premium, some people look for plans with a higher deductible. When does this work best? If you had very few medical expenses last year, you probably didn’t reach your deductible. If you feel that will stay the same for the coming year, a plan with a high deductible may be the right fit.

Low deductible: For active families, a low-deductible plan might be a good choice. If the kids are in sports—or someone has a chronic health problem, with lots of medical and emergency visits—it may be worth paying a slightly higher premium to get a low-deductible plan, with low copays.

Coinsurance

Some people get confused about copay versus coinsurance. Just remember, they are not the same thing.

When you reach your deductible, you must pay a percentage of the remaining costs—this is the coinsurance amount.

Let’s say you have a policy with 30% coinsurance. That means the insurance company will pay 70% of the bill after your deductible has been met and you pay the remaining 30%. But you won’t have to pay that 30% forever. You pay until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum—perhaps $5,000, depending on your Cigna plan. Then, Cigna will cover the rest of qualifying medical expenses for that calendar year.

Example: You have a $100,000 hospital bill, and a Cigna plan with a $1,500 annual deductible and 30% in-network coinsurance. You pay the $1,500 deductible plus 30% coinsurance until you reach your $5,000 annual out-of-pocket maximum.

The out-of-pocket maximum is a wonderful thing. Every Cigna plan has that feature. Check your plan to see if copays, deductibles and pharmacy costs accumulate to the out-of-pocket maximum.

Which is right for you?

Sign up during the Open Enrollment Period. Outside of Open Enrollment, you may be eligible to purchase insurance if you have a qualifying life event. Learn more about enrollment options. If you're an existing customer, Cigna can help you review your current plan—and see which blend of copays, deductibles and coinsurance will meet your needs. If you're new, review our plans online, then call us. Cigna will help you find the right fit by asking just a few questions.

Call Cigna at1.866.438.2446, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm (ET), Monday through Friday. A Cigna licensed insurance agent will be happy to take your call—and explain everything in detail. We want to make sure you understand your health coverage, and help you select a plan that works best for you and your family.

If you are an Arizona resident interested in an individual HMO plan, please call 1.877.484.5967 for further details.

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